You're no shop egg

Posted by RRC on June 13, 2007

In Reply to: You're no shop egg posted by Stuart Squires on June 12, 2007

: I'm quite perplexed by a phrase that I've been using for years, that I'm sure I haven't made up, but cannot find any reference to on the glorious interweb!

: I use the phrase, "You're no shop egg" to indicate that somebody is genuine. I've convinced myself that it originates from when grocers used to put porcelain eggs in their shop window to indicate that they not just sell eggs but they sell perfect eggs; obviously man made 'eggs' are more agreeable to the eye and nose than real eggs that have been sat in the window for 5 days.

: I'm now doubting myself, but also potentially praising myself for dreaming up such a tale!

Actually, there is one hit for "Tha's no shop egg!" There are, however, many hits for "shop egg" and many of them seem to be stating that "shop eggs" are inferior to those fresh from a chicken. It would seem that "shop egg" currently means store-bought eggs, but I can still see the sense of your phrase from that meaning.

• You're no shop egg ESC 14/June/07